Bald Head Island residents aim to control rat problem

Published: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 9:02 a.m.

They moved to Bald Head Island to get away from the riffraff.

Facts

Roof rats: offender informationName: Rattus RattusKnown aliases: house rat, black rat, roof rat, ship ratDescription: Large ears, tail is longer than the body, can have black coats or patterns with white, gray and blackLast known address: found on all seven continentsCriminal history: Helped spread the bubonic plague in the Middle AgesLikely seen: in coastal areas because they are spread through seafaring; the rats are good climbers and like high nooks and cranniesKnown associates: Fleas that hitch a ride and can carry diseases

The issue is not the cotton rat, a species that is native to the affluent Brunswick County island.

According to the Bald Head Island Conservancy, a more destructive rat is damaging homes and commercial buildings.

You read that right.

It turns out they are roof rats, given the unfortunate scientific classification of "rattus rattus," an invasive species that is slinking around the island, according to the latest bulletin from the conservancy.

Let us stop right here.

For those of you who think a rat is a stinking, no-good rat, no matter what his first name is, pay attention.

The folks at the conservancy, a 30-year-old nonprofit with a mission of barrier island preservation and education, are here to tell you there is a difference.

First of all, don't go thinking cotton rats are no-count. More lovable species such as foxes, raccoons, owls and hawks would all beg to differ. After all, none are welcome inside any of the island's finest dining establishments, and all enjoy a good cotton rat for dinner. (They are also chow for less lovable species, such as coyotes and snakes, but we won't get sidetracked.)

Cotton rats generally (we can't vouch for ‘em all) have the good manners to avoid residential homes, as they prefer natural habitats, according to the conservancy.

That brings us back to the rattus "badd-us" roof rats, which are known to damage properties, chiefly because of their propensity to gnaw.

Both the roof rats and the more neighborly cotton rats are more plentiful this year, which the conservancy attributes to fewer foxes.

The island also had a mild winter and a wet summer, according to the village government, which brought in a rat expert from Raleigh earlier this month after getting widespread rodent reports.

The expert, N.C. State professor Michael Waldvogel, told village officials cotton rats may be seen during the day, but the roof rats are likely responsible for damaging buildings.

Waldvogel recommended a community-wide rodent management program that focuses on addressing the rodents in homes and commercial buildings.

Don't panic yet. Now that we've got your attention, the conservancy has some rat control tips:

Ensure your home has no entry points for rodents.

Use traps to snare rats already inside your home – the conservancy cautions against using toxic poison to control rats as it can also harm pets, wildlife or children.

Avoid leaving any food outside – it just entices the little buggers.

Keep native plants and habitats around your house to make it welcoming for rat predators (yes, this could mean snakes).

Through the Internet, acquire bobcat, coyote or fox urine and let loose with it around your home's foundation.

And, if all else fails, you may want to chip in on the ferry's extra baggage fee and import some quick-footed foxes with an appetite.

<p>They moved to Bald Head Island to get away from the riffraff. </p><p>Then the rats came.</p><p>The issue is not the cotton rat, a species that is native to the affluent Brunswick County island.</p><p>According to the Bald Head Island Conservancy, a more destructive rat is damaging homes and commercial buildings.</p><p>You read that right.</p><p>It turns out they are roof rats, given the unfortunate scientific classification of "rattus rattus," an invasive species that is slinking around the island, according to the latest bulletin from the conservancy.</p><p>Let us stop right here. </p><p>For those of you who think a rat is a stinking, no-good rat, no matter what his first name is, pay attention.</p><p>The folks at the conservancy, a 30-year-old nonprofit with a mission of barrier island preservation and education, are here to tell you there is a difference.</p><p>First of all, don't go thinking cotton rats are no-count. More lovable species such as foxes, raccoons, owls and hawks would all beg to differ. After all, none are welcome inside any of the island's finest dining establishments, and all enjoy a good cotton rat for dinner. (They are also chow for less lovable species, such as coyotes and snakes, but we won't get sidetracked.) </p><p>Cotton rats generally (we can't vouch for 'em all) have the good manners to avoid residential homes, as they prefer natural habitats, according to the conservancy.</p><p>That brings us back to the rattus "badd-us" roof rats, which are known to damage properties, chiefly because of their propensity to gnaw. </p><p>Both the roof rats and the more neighborly cotton rats are more plentiful this year, which the conservancy attributes to fewer foxes.</p><p>The island also had a mild winter and a wet summer, according to the village government, which brought in a rat expert from Raleigh earlier this month after getting widespread rodent reports.</p><p>The expert, N.C. State professor Michael Waldvogel, told village officials cotton rats may be seen during the day, but the roof rats are likely responsible for damaging buildings. </p><p>Waldvogel recommended a community-wide rodent management program that focuses on addressing the rodents in homes and commercial buildings. </p><p>Don't panic yet. Now that we've got your attention, the conservancy has some rat control tips:</p><p>Ensure your home has no entry points for rodents.</p><p>Use traps to snare rats already inside your home – the conservancy cautions against using toxic poison to control rats as it can also harm pets, wildlife or children.</p><p>Avoid leaving any food outside – it just entices the little buggers.</p><p>Keep native plants and habitats around your house to make it welcoming for rat predators (yes, this could mean snakes).</p><p>Through the Internet, acquire bobcat, coyote or fox urine and let loose with it around your home's foundation. </p><p>And, if all else fails, you may want to chip in on the ferry's extra baggage fee and import some quick-footed foxes with an appetite.</p><p>Julian March: 343-2099</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @julian_march</p>